Defending Commonwealth Games High Jump Champion Hamish Kerr has withdrawn from competition in Glasgow, saying he's not ready to compete.
Earlier in the year, Kerr took a break for a "physical and mental reset" but he’d arrived in Scotland fully intending to pull on the black singlet.
“We really thought that coming in here, there was a potential that I would feel good and feel ready to go, but just over the last few days I've realised that there's probably still a little bit of work to do.”
Kerr won his first international gold medal at the Birmingham games in 2022 and he is the reigning Olympic and World high jump champion.
He will be a loss to the New Zealand athletics programme in Scotland but he said it wasn't a decision he made lightly.
“I think that the Commonwealth Games is a massively important event for me personally and for our country, and so I was intending to do everything I could to be here. And unfortunately, we're in this position and it just wasn't quite enough.
The 29-year-old said he hoped to be in a position to return to competition in the coming weeks with the LA Olympics in 2028 still the ultimate goal, something that played a part in this decision.
“I think that's important this year to explore these things, and really make sure that I'm right for the bigger ones coming forward, so that is certainly the intention.”
New Zealand Team Chef de Mission, Nigel Avery, said the team are fully supportive of the high jumper’s decision.
“Hamish has built his career on striving for excellence and performing at the highest level. While this was a hard decision, it speaks to the standards he holds himself to and the competitor he is.”
Kerr will remain to support the broader New Zealand team, his partner Maddie Wilson will compete in the heptathlon at Scotstoun Stadium.
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